pawz, To get the rhino version working you need to have a working version of PS2 linux. If your mod chip allows you to read burned PS2 discs with NO SWAP method at all then you can burn a copy and run it just fine. The reason it cant be a swap method is because you load disc one, tell it you want to install the OS, then it asks for disc 2. You put that in, a loader bar moves across the screen, then it asls for disc one again. Disk one loads you into Fdisk, then it asks for disc 2 again. The rest of the install is done off disc 2. Once that is on and running you can use rhino to add whatever they do for you. I ambandonded the project because I could not find a way for HD loader and Linux to co-exist on the same HDD> I got the HD primarily for playing my games off of. The load times of games drove me crazy. Now with almost no load times I am enjoying my ps2 again. If you are unsure where to get a cheap (close to free) copy of PS2 linux then drop me an email or PM and I can let you know where you may be able to "find" a full working copy. You will need a USB keyboard though, and prefferably as USB mouse as well. The SOny kti had a second USB port on the keyboard for the mouse to run on. That way you still had 1 USb port left open. I just used both USB ports and linux saw both devices just fine.
stinky...if u r still interested in coexistence of HDA & Linux i got good doc about it.. basic..you install Linux, make an image of disk, send to PC. Then makes HDA new part. and transfers back image from PC..thats it msg me if u want that doc
I'd like a copy of that if you don't mind =) icarter at pegasus-international.com Thanks =) I really wish someone would make their own complete Linux for the PS2 like they did for the Dreamcast.
Gah...you know what I mean...one that doesn't require anything from Sony. Paying $250 for Linux to run on your PS2 to play around with is rediculous. I could understand the $100US price tag it had on it when it finally quit shipping from Sony in the US because it came with the network adapter, a 40 gig hard drive, a keyboard, a mouse, and a vga cable. As it stands now...a lot of people already have this stuff and don't want to buy Sony's hardware...they just want to jack around with Linux.
So, as I said already if you have all that stuff and just need the discs, send me a PM and I can give you info on a very "cheap" location to get it.
Are you talking about the linux discs, they are open source, free. It means if anyone modifies linux they have to have it open for people to download for free.
I think the reason the sony discs are not open source is because they have some special installer that is seperate from the linux disc itself. So I guess disc 2 of the sony linux kit could be freely distributed. But the actual bootup dvd (disc 1) would be property of sony itself.
There is a big difference between "Open Source" and "Free". Sony Linux is indeed released under the GPL, which means all the source is available, and also means that any modifications made by the public also have to be released under the same license. It doesn't make it free. The RTE linux boot disc however (dvd1) is not open source. It is a Sony autheticated application which in crude terms "puts the playstation in a mode whereby it can boot a linux kernel from the hard disc, cdrom or memory card". I was a bit unclear about how this all worked before I had an opportunity to test this out by borrowing a copy of the dvd's (I already had the hdd, network adapter and a vga cable). For the uninitiated, this is how it goes: DVD 1 is the RTE disc, it contains "PS2-mode" software which boots the PS2 to a menu which contains three options "Install Linux" "Boot Linux" (from various locations) or "Rescue" (a safe-mode environment). When you install linux, it's similar to any early RedHat install. Disk Druid, Package selection etc. To make it clear to those who haven't got it yet - YES ! YOU NEED THE RTE DISC TO INSTALL LINUX AND EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO BOOT LINUX ! Regardless of whether you use Sony linux or another one. To install another one, you have to install it "on top of" or after installing Sony Linux. There is also a NetBSD port, which I expect must be installed the same way, even though it has a different kernel (fwiw, NetBSD lacks support for much of the ps2 hardware including the dvd drive !). To give some feedback on the Sony linux distro as a long time user of a large range of *nix distros, I would rate the Sony distro very highly. Installation is painless and error free. The system supports the hardware fantastically despite the 2.2 kernel (which is really more than adequate anyway). I was very impressed that it supported the USB hub built into the USB Apple keyboard I was using, which meant my mouse worked plugged into the keyboard. Some things in this distro are very old, but some things are oddly new. It includes bind 9.0 client software, which from memory was not shipped with RH6.2. It uses gcc2.95, and it's probably advisable to stick to this since the rest of the system was compiled using it. Zlib in particular needs immediate updating (from www.gzip.org) before you can compile anything. The system also ships without any ssh tools, so the next step is to download and compile openssl and openssh from those two .org sites respectively. It ships with lynx, but no graphical browser. Mozilla and Firefox are available from the ps2-linux Compiled For Your Convenience site (http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/cfyc). Oddly firefox has a dependancy on a Mozilla JS lib, which is bad form on the part of whoever contributed that binary. Oh and KDE 1.x ? Wow, that's practically a museum piece ! The development libraries are very good. I was pleased that everything I attempted to compile worked first go with no messing around. It appears to be an excellent devel environment for compiling your own software. I wouldn't get too hung up on blackrhino personally. If you wanted to use a different distro -- you're probably a lot better off going with Gentoo (http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/gentoo-ps2/) since it's source based. The VGA cable is another issue. If you don't have it, or it doesn't work with your monitor, then you can use NTSC/PAL mode, by holding down Select and R1/R2 respectively. PAL mode is awful, and uses a reduced screen size, so if you can, use NTSC. Check the monitor database (if you can't find this on the ps2-linux site you're an idiot) before you experiment. Many people find that even though their monitor doesn't work during boot, it works after the system is finished booting, after cycling the power to it. Even though the PS2 produces a Sync-On-Green signal, you do not need a SOG monitor to get the correct sync. But if you don't, you can expect an annoying but bearable greent tint to all black areas. It's still better than using PAL/NTSC mode. A Sync separator device can be put in-line with the VGA cable to eliminate this, but since these cost over $50 to buy and almost as much to make, most people won't bother. Just try a different monitor. The Blaze VGA adapter is available on eBay for only a couple of dollars plus postage. I highly recommend a seller named LEMONCELL who ships them from the UK extremely cheaply. I was using an NEC lcd TV with composite and vga inputs. I could not get a compatible signal in console mode, nor in X by default. However, a little tweaking of the XGSConfig file in /etc/X11 solved this. All I did was change the default bit-depth to 16 bit by uncommenting that line, and commenting the 24 bit line. And the key to my frequency problem - I simply commented out the "Framerate 60" line and uncommented the "Framerate 75" line. I was instantly able to use all the different resolutions with no problems (other than a green tint). It's probably possible to fix my console mode frequncy by using the "setcrtmode VESA2,75" but I haven't yet tried it. Despite what everyone says, the hardware is actually very capable. In particular, the native Xserver driver is very snappy. I use windowmaker and the root menu draws fantastically quick. Dragging windows is very responsive. And memory use is quite good. I think it may have a limitation on the maximum swap size, as even though I gave it 512meg, it was only able to use the first 128meg. Even with X, bitchx, lynx and a few KTerms running, the system ran on 0.00 load, with NO swap usage and even a few megs of system ram available. I found this amazing as getting X to run in 32 meg without swapping is quite a feat. The cpu is really not that shabby at all. Mozilla is very bearable to use. I haven't checked into a lighter browser yet, but its possible there might be something that runs even better. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with performance and practically astounded at the efficient use of memory. I expected a dog and got a mediocre racehorse. :") Since I have plenty of other machines, running linux on the ps2 was just for the hell of it, since I've never had a MIPS before. But it's definately very viable and quite enjoyable to use. Think of it as a low-end celeron machine with a good graphics card. The only really bad aspect of the whole setup is the choice of Sync-On-Green video output for the VGA cable. I don't know what Sony were thinking, but they really chose the most screwed-up awkward video type possible. Incidentally, almost 100% of Sony monitors are compatible. Many HDTV's are also supported, but without the SOG support. If you have a compatible monitor though, the Sony linux distribution is very good and well worth paying the money to Sony to show your support. It would be nice if they would ship the distro or just the RTE disc seperately for all the people like me who already have the other components and don't want to pay for an overpriced hard drive, since the tiny RTE disc is really the only thing we all need. I would strongly discourage any further discussion of piracy on this forum to avoid this thread being locked. If you are planning on sharing your RTE disc with friends just to let them try it out (this is technically illegal if not morally) and encourage them to buy it, be discrete. It is available on certain well-known b*tt*rrent sites, but it would be very unwise to discuss this publicly. Let's keep this thread on-topic if possible. :")
yeah, if sony have some sort of iniatiation disc, then that is theirs. (sorry I dont know that much about linux on ps2.) However if anyone writes an OS with linux in it eg. linux mandrake, red hat etc. it has to be free for anyone to download legally from sites such as bigpond.com.au If anyone gets a magazine with linux, it may be illegal to copy it as it may have extra programs on it that aren't free, this could be on the ps2 one I dont know. Sorry if I didn't read through all of your stuff, it was I a bit of a mouthful
well according NetBSD...my friend took hdd (8gigz) connected to PC. on PC hes got NetBSD/x86 and then cross compile everythink for PS2 ( mips R5900 ) then connect to PS2 dmesg: wd0: drive supports 16-sector PIO transfers, LBA addressing wd0: 8693 MB, 16383 cyl, 16 head, 63 sec, 512 bytes/sect x 17803440 sectors
Wow , alot of interestin stuff here got a headache just from readin the post here lol. I myself am new to the linux scene , im also the kinda person whom would be intimadated by tryin some of the stuff here ive never moded a system before although i would like too, but bein able too run a os on a gaming system sounds pretty appealing. Is it true that there are linux distros for the DC? if so how does it work ? or better yet were can i find a copy? The DC is the only console that ive ever tried doin other stuff other than just playin games (hey gotta start small) And another thing bout the GC does it really have a G3 ? i know the graphics are by ATI ....DUH !!!.
Regarding the GameCube : IBM's "Gecko" cpu is a modified version of their own 405 mhz PowerPC 750 chip which is used in Apple G3 computers that use the IBM cpu (older G3's used Motorolla's version which IBM have since updated and added Altivec to). There are a number of cpus which fall under or are compatible with the G3, made by both manufacturers. Regarding the Dreamcast: There's ample links to this on the net. Try http://linuxdc.sourceforge.net and http://www.m17n.org/linux-sh/dreamcast/distribution for starters. Unfortunately I don't have a network adapter for my Dreamcast :"( It's my only console without ethernet ! These distros can boot off cd and are much easier than PS2 linux to get going !
I read that it is possible to make HDAdvance and PS2 Linux co-exist on the same HD, so I am sure that it is possible to get HDLoader and HS2Linux to co-exist. I got a tutorial from another site on how to do it with HDA, I'll be working on it with HDLoader over the next few days.
Hrm...does the RTE disk do anything more than just act as a pressed install disk? If I have a modchip, why would I need the RTE disk (well, other than the obvious "nobody has made it yet")? Esp with the advent of modchips that let you boot directly to the hard drive.
no the rte disk is not just a pressed disk to start you off. If you are using a "backup" of your OWN linux disks for the install you need a direct boot mod chip. You insert disk one, it then boots into the install screen. This disk basically sets the PS2 up to a mode that will actually allow you to install the program. Then it asks for disk 2, you put that in and it checks some stuff, then asks for disk one again. It starts to install and I think it then asks for disk 2 again. After it is installed you ALWAYS have to start the ps2 with disc 1 in the system if you want to boot to linux. So disc one is more than just an RTE disk. It has been integrated into the actual install MANY times.
I really wouldn't say "many many times". Regardless of the installation anyway... Once you have installed the OS on the hard drive using the disc OR copied a full working installation onto a hard drive using a PC or similar, you only need this disc to boot, because the ps2 bios was never intended to boot from the hard drive (for copy protection reasons) Any mod chip that specifically allows direct hard drive booting or memory card booting (the DMS mod chip is the only one I am aware of) will allow you to boot your linux kernel from memory card or from hard drive without using the RTE disc whatsoever. I've always been of the opinion that one mod was as good as the next, but these new direct hdd boot mods are pretty cool. Shame I don't have one ;") FWIW, you can remove the RTE disc straight after booting, because on my machine at least, it seems to spin indefinately, and removing it quietens the machine down quite a bit (although hard drive + internal fan makes the ps2 a pretty noisy box !). Btw, if anyone happens to find a reliable link or tutorial for making hdloader + linux co-exist, then please let us all know. I've been too lazy to muck with it (or reluctant to loose my linux partitions).
if you have to change discs more than once it is "many" times. As far as I know though you cannot even use a direct to HDD mod chip to boot to linux. Especially if you have HDloader on there as well. The ps2 would just not know what to do with it. You may be able to boot to the MC and load it that way, but I havnt played with it enough to see. And I dont have one of the mentioned chips.
I have a turorial on how to get HDAdvance and Linux Coexist, ill post it here. When I read this, I understand about 25% of it, not really that helpful to me, maybe somebody could put this into newb terms for me. Also, if somebody knows if there would be anything differnt that I would have to do to get this to work with HDLoader, that would help too. ----------- How-To: PS2Linux and HD advance Coexistence Disclaimer: Don’t make me responsible for anything that goes wrong. I wrote this guide out of my mind. Regarding questions or failures, post a message or mail to tyrion@geek-squad.de Hope there are not too many language mistakes. =) Thanks to: tiraniddo and pixie2004 from the PS2Linux Forum and to A. Church. They made the base work. The theory: HD advance has is own filesystem. It creates one partition for every game. For running Linux, you need to “install” Linux into one of these game partitions. This is only possible by copying the Linux Files from a PC to the HDa formatted HDD, because once the HDD is partitioned with the HDa FS, you’ll no longer be able to install PS2Linux from CD. FDisk and Disk-Druid will not work, because of the other FS. About & Warnings: PS2: are PS2Linux commands PC: are Windows commands. (Start->Execute->”cmd”) 192.168.0.2 is my Windows PC IP – change it according to your config. 192.168.0.3 is the PS2 IP Address – you can change it with ifconfig (boot with Initrd, but it will not be saved for the next Initrd boot!) Sometimes after rewriting the partition table, you have to reboot, because the table can’t be re-initialized Don’t change the vmlinux file at the MC after you completed the guide. PS2Linux will stop booting if you do so. The guide 1. Download http://achurch.org/ps2/ps2linux-boot-ntsc.tar.gz to your PS2 PS2: wget http://achurch.org/ps2/ps2linux-boot-ntsc.tar.gz 2. Unpack the file PS2: mkdir /root/rdl PS2: cd /root/rdl PS2: tar xvfz /root/ps2linux-boot-ntsc.tar.gz 3. Unpack the Init-FileSystem and mount it PS2: gzip -d /root/rdl/initfs.gz PS2: mkdir /root/initfs PS2: mount -t ext2 /root/rdl/initfs /root/initfs -o loop 4. Copy the US Keytable to the InitFS PS2: cp /usr/lib/kbd/keymaps/i386/qwerty/us.kmap.gz /root/initfs/usr/lib/kbd/keymaps/i386/qwerty/ 5. Edit /root/initfs/etc/sysconfig/keyboard and change KEYMAP from jap106 to us 6. Edit p2lboot.cnf and p2lboot.opt at the /root/rdl dir to PAL, if needed 7. Unmount the InitFS and repack it PS2: umount /root/initfs PS2: gzip -9 /root/rdl/initfs 8. Copy everything to the MC PS2: mount /mnt/mc00 PS2: cp /root/rdl/* /mnt/mc00 9. Create a new partition with fdisk according to the AChurch table. PS2: fdisk –u /dev/hda PS2: n/e/5 (or the next free partition number)/<Enter> (for default first sector) Now take a look at the AChurch table: http://www.ehoba.net/ps2linux/[eng]linux-install.txt The new partition must at least as big as the original PS2Linux partition. Choose your size and look at the according sector several. PS2: +<SectorSeveral-1) (a.E. for 2048MB, write + 4194287) PS2: w 10. Format the new partition PS2: mke2fs /dev/hda5 11. Repeat step 9/10 with a 1024MB partition 12. Reboot and select Initrd at the RTE menu 13. Mount all partitions and copy all files hda5. PS2: mkdir /mnt/hda1 PS2: mkdir /mnt/hda5 PS2: mkdir /mnt/hda6 PS2: mount –t ext2 /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1 PS2: mount –t ext2 /dev/hda5 /mnt/hda5 PS2: mount –t ext2 /dev/hda5 /mnt/hda6 PS2: cp –a /mnt/hda1 /mnt/hda5 14. Compress the new partition PS2: dd bs=4M if=/dev/hda5 | gzip -1 > /mnt/hda6/hda1.gz 15. Copy the file to your PC. I’ve used samba, but you can also use Netcat. a) How-To Samba: http://playstation2-linux.com/download/cfyc/HOWTO_setup_samba.html b) Netcat: Download the attached file from http://www.governmentsecurity.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=677 to your PC and unpack it. Add the folder with the nc.exe to the path variables (Start->Settings->Control Panel->System->Advanced->Environment Variables->Path and add “;d:/nc” a.E) PC: nc -lp 32000 > hda1.gz PS2: nc 192.168.0.2 32000 < hda1.gz 16. Set up the HD advance FS (All data at the PS2 will be deleted !). PS2: ps2fdisk Create the FS with „o“ Create 4 new partitions. The partition size can only be a multiple of 128MB. Partition 1: Linux, Comment: / - this is the Main Linux Partition must be as big as the partition you’ve compress at step 14 (hda5) Partition 2: swap, Comment: swap – the swap partition (128MB) Partition 3: Linux, Comment: / - should be 4096MB 17. Format the new partitions PS2: mke2fs /dev/hda1 PS2: mke2fs /dev/hda3 18. Copy the PS2Linux back to the PS2 and unpack it. PS2: mkdir /mnt/hda PS2: mount –t ext2 /dev/hda3 /mnt/hda PS2: cd /mnt/hda PS2: nc -lp 32000 > hda1.gz (Maybe you have to reboot here, because netcat does not stop when finished. Don’t forget to remount hda3) PC: nc 192.168.0.3 32000 < hda1.gz PS2: gzip –d hda1.gz PS2: mkdir /mnt/hda1 PS2: mkdir /mnt/vda PS2: mount –t ext2 /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1 PS2: mount –t ext2 /mnt/hda/hda1 /mnt/vda -o loop PS2: cp –a /mnt/vda /mnt 19. Reboot – now you’re finish. If the superblock differs from the physical size, reboot with Initrd and perform: PS2: mke2fs -S /dev/hda1 PS2: e2fsck /dev/hda1
Right... I would like to say straight up that this post seems very informative, but can any one let me kno how to initially get this onto the HDD. I might also add now that I am a n00b with limited knowledge of the HDAdvance configs Thanx in advance for the help
